2016–17 Liberty Flames basketball team

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

2016–17 Liberty Flames basketball
Coach John McLendon Classic champions
CIT, Quarterfinals
ConferenceBig South Conference
Record21–14 (14–4 Big South)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Brad Soucie (2nd (4th) season)
  • Kyle Getter (2nd season)
  • Matt Olinger (1st season)
Home arenaVines Center
Seasons
2016–17 Big South men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Winthrop 15 3   .833 26 7   .788
UNC Asheville 15 3   .833 23 10   .697
Liberty 14 4   .778 21 14   .600
Gardner–Webb 11 7   .611 19 14   .576
High Point 9 9   .500 15 16   .484
Radford 8 10   .444 14 18   .438
Campbell 7 11   .389 19 18   .514
Charleston Southern 7 11   .389 12 19   .387
Longwood 3 15   .167 6 24   .200
Presbyterian 1 17   .056 5 25   .167
2017 Big South tournament winner

The 2016–17 Liberty Flames men's basketball team represented Liberty University in the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in Lynchburg, Virginia for the 27th consecutive season at Vines Center, with a capacity of 8,085. The team was led by Ritchie McKay, who was in his fourth season, but second season since his return to the program. They were members of the Big South Conference. They finished the season 21–14, 14–4 in Big South play to finish in a third place. They were upset in Quarterfinals of the Big South tournament by Radford. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated Norfolk State in the first round to be champions of the Coach John McLendon Classic. In the Second Round they defeated Samford before losing in the quarterfinals to UMBC.

Previous season

The Flames finished the 2015–16 season 13–19, 10–8 in Big South play to finish in a tie for fifth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Big South tournament to UNC Asheville.[1]

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Anthony Fields 0 Guard 6'0" 160 Senior Detroit, Michigan Graduated
Hansel Atencia 4 Guard 5'10" 175 Freshman Bucaramanga, Colombia Transferred to The Master's College
Theo Johnson 14 Guard/Forward 6'7" 205 Junior Sacramento, California Transferred to Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros Suspended before the 2015–16 season.
Evan Maxwell 15 Center 6'10" 245 Sophomore Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania Transferred to Kansas

2016–17 Newcomers

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Xzavier Barmore
PG
Seneca, South Carolina Seneca Senior High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jul 20, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz
SG
Ponce, Puerto Rico Deep Run High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Mar 10, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Brock Gardner
SF
Chandler, Arizona Tri-City Christian Academy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN:3/5 stars
Josiah Talbert
PF
Olathe, Kansas Olathe East High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jun 14, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Brody Hicks
SG
Roanoke, Virginia Cave Spring High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 188 lb (85 kg) Nov 24, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Scottie James
F
Tarpon Springs, Florida Tarpon Springs HS / Bradley 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Zach Farquhar
G
Cincinnati, Ohio Sycamore High School 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 160 lb (73 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Ray Chen
G
Miaoli, Taiwan Gaston HS / Belmont Abbey 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Roster

2016–17 Liberty Flames men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Myo Baxter-Bell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 255 lb (116 kg) RS Fr Chaminade Julieen High School Dayton, Ohio
G 1 Caleb Homesley 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) So Porter Ridge High School Indian Trail, North Carolina
G/F 2 A. C. Reid 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Smithson Valley High School Spring Branch, Texas
G 3 Lovell Cabbil 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 155 lb (70 kg) So Mansfield Summit High School Arlington, Texas
G 4 Xzavier Barmore 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Seneca Senior High School Seneca, South Carolina
G/F 5 Ryan Kemrite 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Jr Satch Homeschool Conroe, Texas
G 11 Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Deep Run High School Ponce, Puerto Rico
F 12 Brock Gardner 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Tri-City Christian Academy Chandler, Arizona
G 13 Ray Chen 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) GS Belmont Abbey Miaoli, Taiwan
G 14 Brody Hicks (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 188 lb (85 kg) Fr Cave Spring High School Roanoke, Virginia
G 15 Zach Farquhar 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 160 lb (73 kg) RS So Sycamore High School Cincinnati, Ohio
G 22 John Dawson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS Sr Marquette Clovis, New Mexico
F 24 Ezra Talbert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS So Olathe East High School Olathe, Kansas
F 31 Scottie James Current redshirt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) So Bradley Tarpon Springs, Florida
F 34 Josiah Talbert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Olathe East High School Olathe, Kansas
G 44 Ryan Hiepler (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So Oaks Christian High Westlake Village, California
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on
  • Roster is subject to change as/if players transfer or leave the program for other reasons.

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
Nov 11, 2016*
8:35 pm
Cairn W 81–53  1–0
 15  Dawson   8  Homesley   5  Cabbil  Vines Center (5,449)
Lynchburg, VA
Nov 15, 2016*
8:00 pm
VCU L 59–64  1–1
 14  Dawson   4  Tied   2  Tied  Vines Center (3,289)
Lynchburg, VA
Nov 19, 2016*
7:00 pm
at No. 6 Indiana
Indiana Classic
L 48–87  1–2
 8  Chen   3  Tied   3  Homesley  Assembly Hall (Bloomington) (12,537)
Bloomington, IN
Nov 21, 2016*
6:00 pm
UMass Lowell
Indiana Classic
W 84–77  2–2
 21  Kemrite   7  Homesley   5  Homesley  Vines Center (1,050)
Lynchburg, VA
Nov 23, 2016*
2:00 pm
Mississippi Valley State
Indiana Classic
W 70–55  3–1
 22  Homesley   6  Homesley   4  Tied  Vines Center (1,176)
Lynchburg, VA
Nov 26, 2016*
4:00 pm
at William & Mary L 70–79  3–3
 15  Dawson   4  Tied   7  Dawson  William & Mary Hall (3,039)
Williamsburg, VA
Nov 29, 2016*
7:00 pm, LFSN
Central Penn
Indiana Classic
W 62–48  4–3
 15  Homesley   11  Homesley   3  Dawson  Vines Center (1,395)
Lynchburg, VA
Dec 3, 2016*
7:00 pm
at UNC Greensboro L 65–72  4–4
 18  Homesley   10  Homesley   6  Homesley  Greensboro Coliseum (1,552)
Greensboro, NC
Dec 6, 2016*
7:00 pm
Furman L 58–61  4–5
 18  Kemrite   5  Kemrite   2  Dawson  Vines Center (1,541)
Lynchburg, VA
Dec 10, 2016*
2:00 pm
Princeton L 64–67  4–6
 16  Kemrite   8  Homesley   4  Homesley  Vines Center (2,510)
Lynchburg, VA
Dec 16, 2016*
7:00 pm
Clarks Summit W 81–33  5–6
 18  Gardner   11  Baxter-Bell   5  Baxter-Bell  Vines Center (1,236)
Lynchburg, VA
Dec 19, 2016*
8:00 pm, ESPN3
at Lamar L 65–82  5–7
 15  Kemrite   6  Dawson   4  Dawson  Montagne Center (1,677)
Beaumont, TX
Dec 21, 2016*
8:00 pm
at Houston L 54–77  5–8
 15  Kemrite   7  Cabbil   4  Pacheco-Ortiz  Hofheinz Pavilion (3,540)
Houston, TX
Big South regular season
December 29, 2016
7:00 pm
at Presbyterian W 77–61  6–8
(1–0)
 16  Kemrite   4  Tied   4  Tied  Templeton Physical Education Center (475)
Clinton, SC
Dec 31, 2016
2:00 pm
at Charleston Southern W 81–70  7–8
(2–0)
 19  Kemrite   5  Tied   5  Pacheco-Ortiz  CSU Field House (367)
North Charleston, SC
Jan 3, 2017
7:00 pm
UNC Asheville L 57–70  7–9
(2–1)
 17  Kemrite   6  Dawson   2  3 tied  Vines Center (1,219)
Lynchburg, VA
Jan 7, 2017
2:00 pm
Campbell W 61–54  8–9
(3–1)
 21  Cabbil   6  Kemrite   3  Reid  Vines Center (775)
Lynchburg, VA
Jan 11, 2017
7:00 pm
at High Point W 62–58  9–9
(4–1)
 11  Tied   7  Dawson   4  Pacheco-Ortiz  Millis Athletic Convocation Center (904)
High Point, NC
Jan 14, 2017
4:30 pm
at Radford W 71–64 OT 10–9
(5–1)
 16  Cabbil   8  Baxter-Bell   2  4 tied  Dedmon Center (1,425)
Radford, VA
Jan 19, 2017
7:00 pm
Gardner–Webb W 65–62  11–9
(6–1)
 20  Tied   6  Gardner   5  Pacheco-Ortiz  Vines Center (1,974)
Lynchburg, VA
Jan 21, 2017
7:00 pm
Winthrop L 48–61  11–10
(6–2)
 15  Kemrite   12  Dawson   3  Cabbil  Vines Center (4,158)
Lynchburg, VA
Jan 26, 2017
7:00 pm
at Longwood W 93–62  12–10
(7–2)
 22  Kemrite   6  Gardner   3  3 tied  Willett Hall (1,614)
Farmville, VA
Jan 28, 2017
2:00 pm
at Campbell W 72–40  13–10
(8–2)
 16  Cabbil   6  Cabbil   6  Dawson  John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center (2,413)
Buies Creek, NC
Jan 31, 2017
7:00 pm
Presbyterian W 71–51  14–10
(9–2)
 19  Baxter-Bell   3  3 tied   6  Pacheco-Ortiz  Vines Center (1,718)
Lynchburg, VA
Feb 4, 2017
7:00 pm
Radford W 57–54  15–10
(10–2)
 15  Pacheco-Ortiz   6  Pacheco-Ortiz   3  Tied  Vines Center (3,022)
Lynchburg, VA
Feb 9, 2017
7:00 pm
at Gardner–Webb W 92–87 2OT 16–10
(11–2)
 28  Pacheco-Ortiz   6  Kemrite   5  Pacheco-Ortiz  Paul Porter Arena (1,204)
Boiling Springs, NC
Feb 11, 2017
2:00 pm
Charleston Southern W 76–69  17–10
(12–2)
 19  Baxter-Bell   10  Dawson   8  Baxter-Bell  Vines Center (2,381)
Lynchburg, VA
Feb 14, 2017
7:00 pm
High Point W 55–52  18–10
(13–2)
 21  Kemrite   6  Cabbil   5  Reid  Vines Center (1,469)
Lynchburg, VA
Feb 18, 2017
12:00 pm
at Winthrop L 67–84  18–11
(13–3)
 15  Pacheco-Ortiz   6  Pacheco-Ortiz   4  Reid  Winthrop Coliseum (2,258)
Rock Hill, SC
Feb 23, 2017
7:00 pm
Longwood W 61–45  19–11
(14–3)
 13  Pacheco-Ortiz   6  Cabbil   2  5 tied  Vines Center (2,789)
Lynchburg, VA
Feb 25, 2017
7:00 pm
at UNC Asheville L 45–63  19–12
(14–4)
 18  Baxter-Bell   6  Baxter-Bell   3  Cabbil  Kimmel Arena (2,928)
Asheville, NC
Big South tournament
Feb 28, 2017
3:00 pm, ESPN3
(3) vs. (6) Radford
Quarterfinals
L 52–56  19–13
 18  Baxter-Bell   5  Tied   3  Cabbil  Winthrop Coliseum (729)
Rock Hill, SC
CIT
Mar 13, 2017*
7:00 pm, Facebook Live
Norfolk State
First Round
Coach John McLendon Classic
W 73–64  20–13
 30  Kemrite   4  Dawson   8  Dawson  Vines Center (574)
Lynchburg, VA
Mar 20, 2017*
7:00 pm, Facebook Live
Samford
Second Round
W 66–58  21–13
 15  Dawson   6  Pacheco-Ortiz   6  Pacheco-Ortiz  Vines Center (1,388)
Lynchburg, VA
Mar 26, 2017*
2:00 pm, Facebook Live
at UMBC
Quarterfinals
L 68–80  21–14
 23  Pacheco-Ortiz   5  Pacheco-Ortiz   3  Pacheco-Ortiz  Retriever Activities Center (869)
Catonsville, MD
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time..

References

  1. ^ Walls, Dave (March 4, 2016). "Liberty Flames Out In Big South Tourney To Asheville, 80-49". WSET. Retrieved February 6, 2024.